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New ORNL tool to assess global freshwater stress suggests that population growth could be a bigger factor in water availability than increasing temperatures

Green Car Congress

Our tool provides a simple method to integrate disparate climate and population data sources and develop preliminary per capita water availability projections at a global scale. At that time, it was unusual to integrate population, climate and water data into one model. —Esther Parish, lead author. —Esther Parish.

Water 236
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Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Gains Steam

Cars That Think

Most nuclear plants around the world today are large light-water reactors, with capacities well over a gigawatt—quite a bit more than typical coal plants. Large reactors need consistent and prolific water sources to cool themselves, something not every old coal plant can provide. But in the future, not all reactors might be so large.

Coal 145
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Study Finds Regional Variations in Irrigation Practices Can Push Corn Ethanol Water Requirements 3x Higher Than Earlier Estimates; Need to Account for Regional Specifics in Mandates

Green Car Congress

The foreground bar height indicates the EWe of each state, with the portion of ground and surface water indicated by color. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have estimated state-level field-to-pump water requirements of corn ethanol production across the US. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. Chiu et al.

Water 170
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Study finds that environmental impact of corn-ethanol E85 is 23% to 33% higher than that of gasoline; environmental problem-shifting

Green Car Congress

eutrophication; ET = ecological toxicity; FEC = fossil energy consumption; WU = water use; LO = land occupation; “The rest” includes acidification; smog formation; ozone layer depletion; and human health effects. Environmental impacts of gasoline and E85. Error bar shows regional variations for E85. GW = global warming; Eut. Click to enlarge.

Gasoline 357
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DOE awards $35M to 12 ARPA-E projects to reduce methane emissions; 5 on natural gas engines

Green Car Congress

The system will significantly increase methane conversion efficiency and comply with future stringent nitrous oxide regulations. The proposed MOC will use a hydrothermally stable formulation to promote high conversion efficiencies in low-temperature and high-water concentration environments.(Selection Selection amount: $3,257,089).

Gas 186
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A Girls’ Trip to Costa Rica. But With No Phones, Did It Happen?

Baua Electric

A bit like sleepaway camp We’d come from all over the United States, including Texas, Alabama, California and Minnesota, and most of us were meeting for the very first time. They directed us to their favorite restaurants and watering holes, and attempted to draw everyone into conversation and ensure no one felt left out.

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Junkyard Find: 1959 Renault Dauphine

The Truth About Cars

Not only that, the Dauphine's engine boasted water cooling, which added complexity compared to the 1930s-technology Beetle but made it possible to have a heater that worked (the Beetle's nearly-useless heater involved a heat exchanger on the exhaust, with associated danger of carbon monoxide in the passenger compartment).

San Jose 102